Game-puzzle.



A. HENDERSON.

GAME PUZZLE. APPLIOATION FILED 001229, 1908.

931,923, Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

jqi 1 2% f ALFRED HENDERSON, 0F WOODHAVEN, NEW YORK.

GAME-PUZ ZLE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1999.

Application filed October 29, 1908. Serial No. 30,698.

. a puzzle board of such novel and peculiar construction as to form slots and bridges therebetween, over which bridges a ball or marble may be rolled without lodging in or passing through the slots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a puzzle board havin a central opening therein, a series of pairs or slots in the board, and a bridge or track bet-ween the slots of each pair for the passage of a suitable ball or marble, without rolling into the central opening or into the slots.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a puzzle, a game apparatus comprising a board having a central opening and a series of slots arranged in pairs with a bridge or track between the slots of each pair, said bridges decreasing in width and said slots increasing in width from the starting bridge to the terminal bridge, and said bridges being numbered in progression by fives from 5 to 20, so that by rolling a suitable ball or marble over one or more of the bridges lengthwise and clear of the slots and without entering the central opening,

the player will be credited with the number of points indicated by the number at each bridge.

The invention consists in a card or board having a central opening and a series of numbered bridges each paralleled by a pair of slots.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application: Figure 1 is a perspective view of abox containing the puzzle and forming a holder for the puzzle board. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the puzzle in the box ready for play. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the puzzle board showing a modification.

The same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A square box 1 having a suitable top 2 is employed for housing and holding the puzzle board 3, which is seated upon rests 4; attached to the bottom of the box so as to leave a space between the board and the bottom of the box. The sides of the box form a rim for the puzzle board and thereby prevent the ball or marble 5 rolling oi? the board.

The board 3 has a central opening 6, preterably square with the points of the square toward the sides of the square puzzle board. Between the points of the square opening (3 and each side edge of the board 3, a pair of slots 7 is made parallel with the edges of the board 3. The width of such slots increases from the first to the last thereof. Between the slots of each pair is a bridge or track 8. Such bridges are diminished in width from the starting bridge which is numbered five to the terminal or last bridge which is numbered twenty, the intervening bridges being numbered ten and fifteen.

In operating successfully the puzzle the board 8 is held in the uncovered box and by tilting the box the marble or ball is rolled successively over the bridges from the starting bridge to the terminal bridge without permitting the ball to roll into the central opening or into any of the slots; Should the ball roll into any of the slots the player must pass the puzzle to the next player on the right. If the ball rolls into the central opening the player loses his turn. Each bridge crossed counts the number of points indicated at each bridge and the player first making twohundred points wins the game. In playing the game the puzzle is passed from left to right and a player must roll the marble or ball across the bridges in order to count five or more points. A player may obtain five or more points in one turn, and then in his remaining turns obtain the remainder of the points necessary to win the game.

It is obvious that the puzzle may be composed of any suitable material, but for convenience and economy I make it of cardboard.

Any number of players may play the game together, keeping tally of the points gained according to the bridges crossed by the ball.

It will be understood that in the event of crossing the first bridge and failing at the next bridge the player on his next turn should again start at thefirst bridge.

Referring to Fig. 4, a strip of thin pasteboard 9 or other suitable material is placed around the central opening 10, so as to form a slightly raised surface upon the board 11, and thereby retard the movement of the ball toward said opening.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game puzzle comprising a board having a central opening, a series of slots arranged in pairs, bridges one between the slots of each pair and a suitable marble or ball adapted to be rolled over the bridges without entering the opening or the slots.

,2. A game puzzle comprising a board having a central opening, a series of graduated slots arranged in pairs, bridges one between the slots of each pair, such bridges decreasing in width from the first to the last bridge, and a suitable marble or ball adapted to be rolled across the bridges.

3. A game puzzle comprising a square board having a central square opening, the

points of which are opposite the sides of the board,'a pair of slots or elongations in the 2 board between the sides of the latter and the points of the central opening, bridges one between the elongations of each pair, and a suitable marble or ball adapted to be rolled lengthwise across the bridges. 3

4. In a game puzzle, the combination, with a suitable board having rests and rims or flanges forming therewith a box, and a suit able ball .or marble confined by the said rims, of a board fitting within the rims and 3 seatedonthe rests so as to leave a space between the board and the bottom of the box, said board having a series of openings arranged in pairs, and bridges one between the openings of each pair. 4

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED HENDERSON. Witnesses:

VVHITMORE H. SMITH, MEIER STEINBRINK. 

